Here we go! I had my electric guitar repaired, and had a bass at hand (I have no idea what I'm doing with the bass...), so I wanted to try out something a bit more growly than I usually make. The last part of the tune utilizes the chord progression from my dungeon theme.

As for the related boss encounter: this follows the previous dungeon theme - at the end of a maze of a tomb, there is a huge underground cavern/hall. Most of the cavern is flooded with mercury, and the boss we are after has something to do with this. Theres three stages to the encounter: first theres tons of minions which need to be dispatched of, after which the pool of mercury starts 'boiling'. From the pool emerges dozens of quicksilver tendrils, trying to bash and grab at the heroes. After avoiding those, a clawed monstrosity climbs from under the surface.

The phases loop, except the big baddie stays in melee after the initial entry at first phase 3.

Pasted in from my track description: In terms of context, and without being specific, I imagined that this theme would go with fighting against a type enemy that knows the art of battle back to front and around again. What's worse? They have the experience to show for it. This battle is more than a simple case of who can hit each other the hardest and live. No, this enemy is not in fact a primitive beast relying on instinct. They will think of every trick in their arsenal to outsmart you. That is their key to victory.

TL;DR: Pick top 3, name honorable mention if you want. Comments appreciated, but not mandatory.

Each voter chooses top 3 entries. The most favored pick gets 3 points, second 2, and third 1. The voter gets 1 points for voting.

The participant with highest TOTAL is assigned a score of 10, followed up by 8, 7, 6 ... 1 (never less than 1). The participant with most honorable mentions gets an extra 1 point when final scoring is given. If the TOTAL, or Honorable Mentions result in a tie, both participants are assigned with the same values as if they won the position alone.

Time to throw my votes in here, always happy to see good entries! Voting was even harder than usual this time.

Tremendouz: Ominous and thunderous, very cool! I can see this perfectly fit your setting. Love the countermelody at 1:39 too.

Shrinx: Welcome back! I really see a huge monster here, in a kind of 3d rpg, very cool vibe. There is a low note that sounds a bit weird to me towards the end, but not enough to ruin the track

LordMev: Metal lends very well for a boss theme, I like how the song works.

hlesperance: As much as I'm enjoying this piece, I couldn't picture it on a boss fight. It sounds more like a prologue to me, or in any case a track to go together with someone telling a story. Nonetheless, the structure of it is really nice, and it is as always full of cool ideas.

Floflo: James Hetfield would be proud, energetic and driving, go around and shoot everything.

SharpRainMusic: You're in the suburbs, a pointy-haired DJ comes there and say that he can play better music than you. You lose it and you start a techno fight to show who's the boss. Nice choice of synths and good production, this sounds very cool.

Avaruussaha: A bit rougher around the edges than your usual, but the piece is very cool. Variegate, dynamic and with a lot of character, definitely a great compositional work.

Mairiba: Definitely gives the feel of a mindful and smart opponent, sort of mafia-ish game, I picture the guy to be a classy oriental hitman for some reason. It is very Mairiba too.

Ahah guys those entries... Loved to listen to all those, sometimes really different, takes on what a boss battle could be!Also sorry for not giving everyone's feedbacks, but all the songs were good imo, they all had something interesting

@Tremendouz - Feels like you have to keep moving, fighting smaller enemies, then around 1:04 the main boss makes his move.

@Shrinx - First off, really well written. My only complaints are that it seems to lack intensity, especially after just listening to Tremendouz's song; that might come down to sound design and instrument samples, though. Also the chimes don't sound as ominous as you may have intended, at least to my ears, too melodic. But I love the section from 1:09 - 1:31. My song has a similar section near the end where it sounds hopeful that the battle is turning in favor of the protaganist, but yours manages to sound hopeful and uneasy, still doubtful that you will win.

@Lordmev - Welcome Mev, great production work. The guitar backing from 0:30 - 0:58 is cool. Those vocals are deliciously unsettling. Awesome picture too, a self-portrait?

@floflo79 - Badass. More cohesive and complete sounding than some of your previous entries.

@sharprainmusic - As a song, not much to say other than I like it. As a boss/fight theme, I can only think of this

Danilo_Ciaffi - Very cinematic. Great use of character themes to tell a story.

Tremendouz - Really threatening and tense, which is great for a boss encounter. Your piece had a lot of impact in that way, although my only complaint would be that it takes a while to get to the real 'battle' part of the theme, but that doesn't hold it back too much from fitting incredibly well for an intense boss encounter.

LordMev - Love the metal approach, that particular genre lends itself real well to boss encounters! There was a real sinister feel to a lot of your song, which is great for enhancing the threat of the boss.

hslesperance - Definitely get an old RPG feel out of this one. Personally, I feel it lacks some impact as the theme of what is normally an intense battle, but it makes up for it with emotional impact, like there's more of a story here we should focus on.

floflo79 - Love the DOOM feel! This just sounds straight up cool and gets me pumped for an awesome battle with a great demon or something of the like.

sharprainmusic - Straight up, this just sounds so freaking cool. How upbeat your song is works for a boss theme really well, it's great at keeping the head bopping and the blood pumping. I love how the softer orchestral parts make your song a combination of emotional and funky, which both gets me invested and keeps me excited.

Danilo_Ciaffi - There is just so much right with this one. It's intense, it's emotional, it's threatening, there's an nice idea behind it. It's straight up a great piece both as the theme for a boss fight, and for a solemn, story-driven encounter

Avaruussaha - Love the idea of the multi-phase theme for a multi-phase battle (totally not biased by my history with the idea.... ). The guitar riffs were really badass, and overall the song is really intense

Mairiba - I think the start really fits what you wanted here. It feels like the opponent is toying around with me, which just shows to show that they are indeed experienced. The song is a really nice listen, funky as hell, and guitar melody is awesome. And the heavier sections are great at increasing the tension.

Overall, every piece had theirs strengths as boss themes, and the variety made for some great material to listen to. Now, for my votes....

3RD PLACE - sharprainmusic2ND PLACE - Tremendouz1ST PLACE - Danilo_Ciaffi

Tremendouz — Demon Lord Shagnakrul (Boss Battle Theme) - I love the sense of urgency and danger this track brings. The orchestral VSTs fit perfectly for the theme and it is well composed through. The break down reminds me of Wizpig or the witch from Banjo and Kazooie.

Matt Omega — Terror Of The Caves - There is tension all over this one! that ominous violin going throughout holds the melody well and those bell hits sound epic. Can see this in a Chrono Trigger type game or Bravery Default. Great work.

LordMev — BOSS THEME - really interest intro and crescendo into that guitar. Great use of the guitar and stabs to create that uneasy atmosphere keeping the listener off guard at all times. Love the break down and that lead guitar also. Sounds like it should be in a kick a*s Splatterhouse game.

hslesperance — Confrontation - well I wasnt expecting that. A great intro into a surprising optimistic middle section. I love the dynamics used to keep the instruments separated in their melodies. It really kept me uneasy not expecting the next section. I would have loved to hear more of this.

Florian Decros — Boss Theme 1 - Time to rock! this track makes me miss my GP5 days. Great pounding atmosphere and drive throughout. reminds of a racing game the way that the rhythm leads the track. Can deffo see this in a F-Zero title!

Danilo Ciaffi — I don't want to fight (Boss Theme) - well thats an epic intro full of indecision and tense quick notes. I love the small piano break down giving that sense of self doubt before coming back in again. you really paid attention to the message you wanted to put across in this one. Great job. That break down reminds me of a Valkyrie Profile game soundtrack.

Avaruussaha — Mercury Tendrils - Great guitar tone to kick off. Nice riffs throughout keeping the flow of track going at all times. Sounds like it could be in a No more heroes game at the start but then breaks into FF, Black Mages style of breakdown. Love the guitar work in this one!

Mairiba — Battle Against A Disciplined Opponent [A Boss Theme] - that tone.....makes me feel warm inside. The use of that opening note staggered notes followed by the piano brings a great sense of uneasy determination that flows throughout the track. Sounds like it could fit in a title like Catherine, that smooth rock followed by that jazzy undertones. Great job on the composition also. (although I swear there is some james bond themage in there somewhere lol)

That's typically the rule, yes. In the first post, where the theme and deadline, etc. are set, you'll see that one of the stipulations is that an entry must be made specifically for the contest you're participating in.